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Lotte World levels up with permanent MapleStory theme island

Published: 03 Apr. 2026, 18:13 Updated: 05 Apr. 2026, 19:49

CHO YONG-JUN
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The Maple Island at the Lotte World in Songpa District, southern Seoul. [NEXON]

Fans of MapleStory rejoice — your favorite game has come to life at Lotte World theme park.

Across the bridge at the Lotte World Magic Castle sits the world of MapleStory, waiting to welcome gamers and other visitors alike. There are big statues of the popular Orange Mushroom and Green Slime from the game, and a constructed wall that recreates the Maple World and introduces new rides, food and merchandise.

The Maple Island at the Lotte World in Songpa District, southern Seoul, seen from the Seokchon Lake. [CHO YONG-JUN]

Nexon collaborated with Lotte World to open an area dedicated to the game publisher’s hit Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) at the Lotte World Adventure Magic Island in Songpa District, southern Seoul.

The two companies have been in collaboration for a while, opening KartRider-themed go-kart rides and the ongoing season festival MapleStory in Lotte World, which features MapleStory-themed decorations and events. While the MapleStory in Lotte World event only runs from March 14 to June 14, the new area is here to stay.

The Maple Island at the Lotte World in Songpa District, southern Seoul. [CHO YONG-JUN]

Instead of it being a limited-run event, Maple Island is a completely revamped area to the east of Magic Island, dedicated to the popular game. The new zone has three new rides — Stone Express, Arcana Ride and EOS Tower — and a reskinned version of the Gyro Spin, which now features the Pink Bean, a cult classic boss monster from the game.

The four rides are all worth giving a go, regardless of whether you are a fan of the game or not. The Stone Express is the only roller coaster in the new Maple Island, themed after the Stone Spirit, and is likely to be the one with the longest line.

Being a “family roller coaster” as the game publisher describes it, it is not a ride with extreme drops or a 360-degree turn, but a short and concise one that a wide range of audiences can enjoy. During the 90-second journey, the roller coaster loops around the circuit twice, giving a good view of not just Maple World but the entirety of Lotte World, Lotte World Tower and Seokchon Lake.

The EOS Tower at the Maple Island at the Lotte World in Songpa District, southern Seoul. [NEXON]

A similar vibe is shared at the EOS Tower. This MapleStory-themed attraction is much smaller and shorter than the massive Gyro Drop, making it a family-friendly version of the popular drop tower ride.

An unexpected joy came from the Arcana Ride. Hidden in front of the Stone Express building, this attraction barely looks like a ride from the outside. There are about a dozen small vehicles that fit one adult each, with an oval track that can’t be longer than 20 meters (65 feet). The ride also looks ordinary, as the connected vehicles go around and around continuously.

The Arcana Ride at the Maple Island at the Lotte World in Songpa District, southern Seoul. [CHO YONG-JUN]

The real unexpected fun comes when the vehicle you are in goes for an extremely sharp turn around the two corners of the oval, effectively throwing the rider hard to the right. During the press event on Wednesday, many of the Lotte World staff members and reporters who tried the ride without prior knowledge were seen screaming with joy.

The Gyro Spin, too, while technically the same ride as before — just with a cute pink theme and a Pink Bean character in the middle of the ride — still brings plenty of enjoyment. As the ride spins left and right in the swing, the circular base itself also rotates. The view at the end of the swing is magnificent, looking through the cherry blossom-filled lake toward the Jamsil area before falling back down at high speed.

The Gyro Spin at the Maple Island at the Lotte World in Songpa District, southern Seoul. [CHO YONG-JUN]

There are obviously also new foods and drinks ready, too. Pink Bean Waffle, the signature menu item shaped like the boss monster, is priced at 9,500 won ($6.30) while the special Tree Spirit Ade, Spirit of Harmony Ade and Little Spirit Ade cost 8,000 won each. Some muffins and doughnuts look like Green Slimes and Yeti.

Best of all, Maple Island doesn't require visitors to pay for a more expensive ticket or make a reservation before entering the arena: everyone with a ticket to the park is welcome.